cosworth engine swap
Moderator: martauto
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leeman69
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 83
- Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: north kent, northfleet
am toying with the idea of putting cosworth in my e30. i no its been done before and is a bit old now but somehow have managed to gather a few parts etc which i think i could build a good one.
questions to anyone who has done it....
engine mounts? custom or modified to fit bmw subframe?
does the tunnel need cutting for the t5 box?
how close can you get it to the bulkhead?
cheers
questions to anyone who has done it....
engine mounts? custom or modified to fit bmw subframe?
does the tunnel need cutting for the t5 box?
how close can you get it to the bulkhead?
cheers
I´m pretty sure the T5 box fits easily.
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Ant
- Retired Team Member

- Posts: 10496
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: PD+E dept :D
- Contact:
indeed it does, tailshaft extension is a lot longer but with careful planning you can get the gearshift in the correct place .
If you wanted to get the YB block as far back as poss , you may have to move the shifter hole in the floor a tad backwards, would assist wit driving position though, especially if you're tall ??
std rear mounting on the T5 can be used, remove the bracket and rotate 180 degrees and use an M20 engine mounting on the stock E30 gearbox member to support the box.
Prop needs to be custom made, so a trip to Erith for you there maybe.
Engine mounts are simple enough, just make them strong !! I used 12mm steel plate for the last one( E36 with YB swap )
easiest way is get the eng and box dummy built up, and drop them in the bay, pack under with wood/whatever to find the sweet spot, then make the mounts to suit in the bay, be sure the crank is central to ther car centreline
Plenty of space for the YB, dont forget to allow room for the exhust manifold dude...
HTH
If you wanted to get the YB block as far back as poss , you may have to move the shifter hole in the floor a tad backwards, would assist wit driving position though, especially if you're tall ??
std rear mounting on the T5 can be used, remove the bracket and rotate 180 degrees and use an M20 engine mounting on the stock E30 gearbox member to support the box.
Prop needs to be custom made, so a trip to Erith for you there maybe.
Engine mounts are simple enough, just make them strong !! I used 12mm steel plate for the last one( E36 with YB swap )
easiest way is get the eng and box dummy built up, and drop them in the bay, pack under with wood/whatever to find the sweet spot, then make the mounts to suit in the bay, be sure the crank is central to ther car centreline
Plenty of space for the YB, dont forget to allow room for the exhust manifold dude...
HTH
Product Development and Endurance for Delphi.
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
Email FTW
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
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Ant
- Retired Team Member

- Posts: 10496
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: PD+E dept :D
- Contact:
got £10K ??
RS500 eng, pectel 8, Super T70 all steel internals.......... 500 BHP on low boost setting
freshly built and dyno'd, car that this was destined for is now FUBARRED following a lack of brakes on a trackday
RS500 eng, pectel 8, Super T70 all steel internals.......... 500 BHP on low boost setting
freshly built and dyno'd, car that this was destined for is now FUBARRED following a lack of brakes on a trackday
Product Development and Endurance for Delphi.
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
Email FTW
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
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MattTheHat325
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 727
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:00 pm
- Location: gloucestershire
mate i know this is the wrong section so here i go on a limb but i've got a cossie lump for sale, how much you looking to spend?
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
- Posts: 14351
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: melbourne Australia
dont buy a cheap one. itll cost you more in the long run although i sold mine quite cheap at £1200 for the engine.
custom engine mounts, custom t5 cradle, custom prop.custom alloy sump to clear the steering rack and no real alteration to the e30 apart from at the front if your fitting a big rad/cooler.standard e30 hydraulic clutch system can be used by welding a bracket onto the t5 bellhousing which makes for an easy drive if its an everyday car even with a paddle clutch fitted.
standard e30 3.91 lsd handled stage 3 easy enough.i had 5mm between the inlet manifold and the brake servo.
click on the link below.....
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 09&pos=586
custom engine mounts, custom t5 cradle, custom prop.custom alloy sump to clear the steering rack and no real alteration to the e30 apart from at the front if your fitting a big rad/cooler.standard e30 hydraulic clutch system can be used by welding a bracket onto the t5 bellhousing which makes for an easy drive if its an everyday car even with a paddle clutch fitted.
standard e30 3.91 lsd handled stage 3 easy enough.i had 5mm between the inlet manifold and the brake servo.
click on the link below.....
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 09&pos=586
Fuzz was that £1200 for just the engine?, and is the gearbox alloy as i'm sure welding that would need to be tig?fuzzy wrote:dont buy a cheap one. itll cost you more in the long run although i sold mine quite cheap at £1200 for the engine.
custom engine mounts, custom t5 cradle, custom prop.custom alloy sump to clear the steering rack and no real alteration to the e30 apart from at the front if your fitting a big rad/cooler.standard e30 hydraulic clutch system can be used by welding a bracket onto the t5 bellhousing which makes for an easy drive if its an everyday car even with a paddle clutch fitted.
standard e30 3.91 lsd handled stage 3 easy enough.i had 5mm between the inlet manifold and the brake servo.
click on the link below.....
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 09&pos=586
What i did not know is that the block needs to be drilled if your using the modded sump to accomodate the dipstick tube...scary me thinks as there aint much flange to drill through unless you go sideways into the block.....
Finding a YB lump at decent price is not easy at all.
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
- Posts: 14351
- Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: melbourne Australia
yep, just the engine, although on reflection im sure i gave him it a bit cheaper than my original price.
the bellhousing is alloy so it needs to be an alloy bracket.
i didnt do the sump/dipstick work, that was done by a professional. (not the twat that fitted the engine)
theres several different ways to overcome each problem. its a trial an error to find the solution that best fits your needs.
a remote servo for the brakes would be a good starting point to allow more space.
the bellhousing is alloy so it needs to be an alloy bracket.
i didnt do the sump/dipstick work, that was done by a professional. (not the twat that fitted the engine)
theres several different ways to overcome each problem. its a trial an error to find the solution that best fits your needs.
a remote servo for the brakes would be a good starting point to allow more space.
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cecotto_singh
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 383
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:00 pm
also possible to modify subframe to fit around sump.
if your pockets are deep then dry sumping is the best way to go
if your pockets are deep then dry sumping is the best way to go
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cecotto_singh
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 383
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:00 pm
Probably just as safe as an engine conversion!



